Author Archives: mcseniorcenter

Aging Well September 23rd 2014

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If you see a couple walking along Cherry Heights by the Center with ski poles in their hands, they are not delusional lost cross country skiers searching for snow.

They are Pat and Barbara Stone who have discovered a new form of exercising called Pole Walking or Nordic Walking. Walking with ski poles started in Finland in the early 1900’s, but saw a surge in popularity in the early 1990s as elite cross-country skiers used the technique to train during the summer months. From Finland, it moved across Europe where now more than 20 per cent of Finns and about 10-15 million Germans regularly pole walk. And it is now becoming increasingly popular in the U.S. among all ages, particularly older adults.

The appeal is that by adding the poles, walking becomes a full body exercise – working more muscles and burning more calories. It is low impact, decreasing the stress on your hips and knees, and increases your heart rate compared to walking without poles. Using the poles also provides additional stability to reduce the risk of falling. But as with any exercise, to get the most benefit you should use proper equipment and technique. If you are interested, you can find more information online at Nordic Walking Online – www.nordicwalkingonline.com

It is never too late to find an activity you can enjoy with others or by yourself that gets you up and out of your chair.  As with Pat and Barbara it may be pole walking, or you may find water aerobics, chair yoga or social dancing more to your liking. As Doctor Mike Evans points out, you can do anything you want for 23 ½ hours each day – but for 30 minutes you should find some way to be active.

It’s difficult to predict when the flu season will begin, but normally it starts in October and peaks between December and February. So it’s not too early to get your flu shot. Flu shots will be available Saturday at the MCMC Health and Fitness Fair at Water’s Edge between 10:00 and 2:00 PM. And the Center will be scheduling Flu Shots in early October.

And there are additional steps you can take, recommended by the North Central Public Health District, to reduce the risks of catching the flu and other respiratory illnesses.
Wash hands often with soap and warm water for a full 20 seconds – for many viruses, alcohol hand sanitizer is not a replacement for washing with soap and water. Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, or your sleeve if tissue is not available. Avoid kissing, hugging, and sharing cups or eating utensils with people who are coughing and sneezing (otherwise you can kiss and hug as often as you want!). Disinfect frequently touched surfaces, such as doorknobs. And if you are sick, stay home as much as possible to avoid exposing others.

The topic for the Center’s 11:00 Tuesday Lecture on the 30th, is how aging is perceived in our modern culture and how those perceptions affect us as older adults. Everyone is welcome to participate in the discussion.

For the Center’s Tuesday Night Music on the 30th, The Dufur Boys will be closing out the month of September. And looking into the crystal ball, I can see Andre, K.C. and Tom performing on October 7th. Music starts at 7:00, over by 9:00 PM, all ages are welcome and donations are appreciated.
The comedian who hosted a television variety show and was known for several expressions including “How sweet it is” and “And awaaay we go!” was Jackie Gleason. (And the winner of a free Saturday Breakfast is Sandy Haechrel.) 
For this week’s “Remember When” question, what singing duo was known for their tight harmonies, was encouraged by family friend Chet Atkins and recorded in 1957 a #1 hit single that included the lyrics “Well, what are we gonna tell your mama?/ What are we gonna tell your pa?/ What are we gonna tell our friends/ When they say ‘Ooh la la’”? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or send it with a tape of “Little Donnie” and “Baby Boy Phi” on KMA radio.
Well, it’s been another week trying to keep a lid on the kettle. Until we meet again, don’t worry about repeating yourself – most of us won’t remember any way.

“I have a two-story house and a bad memory, so I’m up and down those stairs all the time. That’s my exercise.” Betty White

Aging Well September 16th 2014

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Although the Senior Center is a key focal point for older adult activities, I try to avoid being too Center focused in this weekly column. But because of the variety of opportunities available this week at the Center, I am going to make an exception. But I will also include the answers to the brainteasers which I forgot last week – apparently the mental stimulation isn’t always that effective.

WEDNESDAY (17th) The Center will host another Passport to Happiness event from 1:00 – 2:30. Lauren Kraemer, OSU Extension Family and Community Health specialist will demonstrate how to prepare several dishes that are easy, delicious and healthy. And I will discuss six behaviors, besides good nutrition, that support brain health: physical activity, mental stimulation, stress management, sleep and rest, and social engagement.

FRIDAY (19th) Nehemiah Brown returns to the Center – sponsored by Columbia Basin Care Facility. He’ll be singing hits from the 50’s and 60’s in the style of Nat King Cole and Tony Bennett. The theme is a Hawaiian “Luau” so you can wear your Hawaiian shirt one more time before fall officially arrives on the 23rd. The music starts at 7:00, ends by 9:00 and costs only $3.00 per person. 

SATURDAY (20TH) Saturday Breakfast is back. This month the breakfast is sponsored on behalf of the AARP Smart Driver Program and during the breakfast, Dennis Davis, Oregon’s AARP Smart Driver Instructor of the Year will be recognized. The menu will feature pancakes, scrambled eggs and sausage with fruit and coffee for $5.00 and $4.00 for Center members. Breakfast starts at 8:00 and we start cleaning up at 9:30 am.

SUNDAY (21ST) The third Sunday is the monthly stop for the Pie and Jam express. From 2:00 – 5:00 local musicians of all stripes and feathers come and “jam” – playing country favorites for everyone’s listening and dancing pleasure. And for that mid-afternoon snack, there is pie and ice cream for sale during intermission.

MONDAY (22ND), The Dalles Toastmasters Club has started a new meeting at the Center on Monday nights from 6:00 – 7:00 to accommodate folks whose work schedule doesn’t allow them to attend the regular Tuesday noon meeting at CGCC. Whether you are working or retired, Toastmasters is an opportunity to enhance your leadership and communication skills in a supportive and pressure free environment. Everyone is invited and if you have any questions, contact Mary Linebarger at 541-298-2829.

TUESDAY (23RD) Do you want to know where you can find accurate and reliable health information you can trust? At the Tuesday Lecture starting at 11:00, Molly Hamlin, from the Planetree Health Resource Library, will explain and demonstrate how you can search for reliable health information using MedlinePlus – the website for the National Library of Medicine.

And on the 23rd there will not be Tuesday Night music at the Center, but The Dufur Boys are scheduled to play on the 30th, and Andre and Friends on October 7th.

And now with a drum roll, here are the answers to the Brainteasers from two weeks ago. And if you can’t remember the questions, you’ll find both the questions and answers at www.midcolumbiaseniorcenter.com.

) Meat. 2) There is no dirt in a hole. 3) Incorrectly (except when it is spelled incorrecktly). 4) Mt. Everest. It just wasn’t discovered yet. 5) Johnny. 6) You would be in 2nd place. You passed the person in second place, not first. 7) The river was frozen. 8) Both boxers are female. 9) Take the first letter of each word and place it at the end. It will spell the same word backwards. 10) It contains each number, zero through nine, in alphabetical order.

The name of the 1964 British – American black comedy starring Peter Sellers in three different roles and included “Gentlemen, you can’t fight in here. This is the War Room!” was Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb. (And the winner of a free Saturday Breakfast is Dennis Wygal.)

This week’s “Remember When” quote is not from a movie but from its second cousin – television. Who was the comedian that hosted a television variety show first telecast in the 50’s and would end his opening monologue by saying “And awaaay we go!” E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or send it with a picture of Crazy Guggenheim – one of Joe the Bartender’s regulars.

Well, it’s been another week trying to jumpstart at ’48 body. Until we meet again, if you ever forget your lines, make up a new story.

“A happy marriage is a long conversation which always seems too short.” Andre Maurois

Aging Well September 9th 2014

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We all change. And although changes occur throughout our lives, they now seem more onerous and unwanted – particularly when they affect our driving abilities. Driving is important in staying independent, but it is also one of the most complicated activities we encounter: a balancing act of perception, attention, memory, decision making, and action control.

Unfortunately, that balance is often affected by age related changes – which many of us can’t avoid: vision problems, hearing loss, slower reaction time, loss of strength and flexibility. Grudgingly, we accept this reality. But we can also adapt by modifying our behaviors in the following ways

Before driving off, make sure you check yourself, your vehicle and all around you. Then while driving stay alert, keep an eye out for the other guy and expect the unexpected; and keep an adequate space between your vehicle and others to give yourself time to react if you have to stop suddenly – even though from my experience on congested roadways, some eager driver always fills the gap.

At some point, you may want to avoid higher risk situations: night driving, congested streets and intersections, bad weather and busy times of the day. And although it is a difficult decision, there just may come a time when you have to give up the keys.

These are suggestions from the AARP Smart Driver course which is offered monthly at the Center. In the course, you will update your knowledge of the rules of the road; and learn about normal age-related physical changes and how to adjust your driving to compensate. Because the course helps reduce auto accidents, auto insurance companies provide a discount for those who complete the course. If you are seventy or over, it is recommended you take the course every two years and for those of you under seventy – once every three years.

The course is offered from 9:00 – 12:00 on the third Monday and Tuesday of most every month – in September it will be on the 15thand 16th. The cost is $20.00 and $15 for AARP members. If you are interested, call the Center to sign up.

In addition, the Center’s Saturday Breakfast on September 20th, sponsored on behalf of the AARP Smart Driver Class, will recognize The Dalles’ own Dennis Davis – the #1 rated Smart Driver instructor in Oregon.

A couple of quick reminders from the history file. The once in a hundred year Mosier City Centennial celebration is on Saturday the 13th and Sunday the 14th. At 1:00 on Saturday in the school gym, there will be a presentation on Ortley, the 1911 former city on 7-Mile Hill. And on Saturday at 4:00 and Sunday at 2:00 “Voices from the Past” will be presented. You can learn more at www.mosier100year.com.
And if your interests lean more towards family history, on Saturday the 13th at 1:00 at the Discovery Center, the Columbia Gorge Genealogical Society presents the first of a 3-part series that will get you started on the right path. September’s topic is “Get Organized”, followed by “Get Started” on October 11thand “Get It Right” on November 8th.
As several people pointed out, it’s Tuesday Night music at the Center – not Saturday night which is busy with Bingo. So let me try again. TUESDAY Night music is back at the Center with Truman playing on the 16th. Music starts at 7:00 and everyone is welcome. And don’t forget Nehemiah Brown will be singing the easy listening hits from the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s on Friday September 19th. The cost is $3.00.
“Drove my Chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry,” were lyrics from the song “American Pie” sung and written by Don McLean and inspired by the tragic airplane crash that killed McLean’s idol, Buddy Holly as well as Richie Valens and the Big Bopper. (And the winner of a free Saturday Breakfast is Ed Anghilante.) 
This week’s “Remember When” question is a back to movie quotes – this one from the highly acclaimed 1964 British – American black comedy starring Peter Sellers (in three different roles) and George C Scott. In what movie was it said “Gentlemen, you can’t fight in here. This is the War Room!”? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or send it by air express on a B-52 bomber.  
Well, it’s been another week trying to line a pig’s ear with a silk purse – or something like that. Until we meet again, learn something new every day – just try not to forget it by the time you fall asleep.  

“When we are no longer able to change a situation – we are challenged to change ourselves.” Viktor E. Frankl

Aging Well September 2nd 2014

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Because of Labor Day, I had less time to write this week’s column, so I decided to keep it simple and include a pop quiz for some mental stimulation. I found these brainteasers on two 2012 posts written by Holly Green for the Forbes Magazine website to show how our preconceived notions combined with our brain’s tendency to see what it wants to see, greatly affects our decision making abilities.
Although you may have heard some of these brainteasers before, I am sure you will be stomped by at least one of them. The answers will be included in next week’s column or if you have delayed gratification issues, they will be on the Center’s website, www.midcolumbiaseniorcenter.com, under the tab Brainteasers. And as a reminder, mental stimulation is just one of six components of brain health with the other five being physical exercise, social engagement, stress management, nutrition and a good night’s sleep.
1. A clerk at a butcher shop stands five feet ten inches tall and wears size 13 sneakers. What does he weigh? 2. How much dirt is there in a hole that measures two feet by three feet by four feet? 3. What word in the English language is always spelled incorrectly? 4. Before Mt. Everest was discovered, what was the highest mountain in the world? 5. Johnny’s mother had three children. The first child was named April. The second child was named May. What was the third child’s name?
Now these next five are a little more difficult – at least that’s what my brain told me. 6. If you were running a race and you passed the person in 2nd place, what place would you be in now? 7. A man stands on one side of a river, his dog on the other. The man calls his dog, who immediately crosses the river without getting wet and without using a bridge or a boat. How did the dog do it? 8. Two boxers are in a match scheduled for 12 rounds. One of the boxers gets knocked out after only six rounds, yet no man throws a punch. How is this possible? 9. What is unusual about the following words: revive, banana, grammar, voodoo, assess, potato, dresser, uneven? 10. What makes this number unique — 8,549,176,320?
After enjoying the Kiwanis Steak Feed on Thursday, September 4th from 5:00 – 7:00 up at Sorosis Park, you can look forward to Friday, October 3rdfor the Baby Back Rib Dinner at the Center sponsored by The Springs at Mill Creek. The Ribs and all the fixin’s will be served from 4:30 until 7:30, and during that time there will be a silent auction that includes a Wildhorse Casino Package consisting of a free one night stay plus dinner and passes to the Tamástslikt Cultural Institute. The musical entertainment will be provided by one of my favorite blue grass bands, Hardshell Harmony. The cost is still $15.00 per person and tickets are now available at the Center. All funds raised from the dinner will be split between Meals-on-Wheels and the Center.
Saturday Night music is back at the Center with Martin and Friends playing on the 9thfollowed by Truman on the 16th. Music always starts at 7:00 and continues until the wee hours of the night – which for me is 9:00 pm. Everyone is welcome and donations are appreciated to support the band and the Center.
Last week’s quote “If that plane leaves the ground and you’re not with him, you’ll regret it. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow, but soon and for the rest of your life,” was from the movie Casablanca and spoken by Humphrey Bogart to Llsa (played by Ingrid Bergman) when he persuades her to fly to Lisbon with her husband Victor Lazlo. (And the winner of a free Saturday Breakfast is Robert Griswold.) 
This week’s “Remember When” question is not about a quote, but lyrics from a song, released in 1971, that told the metaphorical history of “rock and roll” from 1959-1969. What singer recorded the song that included the lyrics “Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry,” and whose tragic death was the inspiration for it? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or send it with a 12 inch apple pie.
Well, it’s been another week trying to squeeze two square pegs into one round hole. Until we meet again, you may never forget, but there will always come a time to forgive.

“You will have bad times, but they will always wake you up to the stuff you weren’t paying attention to.” Robin Williams 

Aging Well August 26th 2014

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How many times have I heard that folks don’t come to the Center because it is just for old people – as if there is something wrong with being older. Is it a fear of catching some kind of “old age” contagion that will cause you to lose your cognitive abilities or sense of humor?
I meet folks every day at the Center ranging in age from fifty to ninety plus, and they don’t exhibit the common stereotypes of “old”: tired, unhappy, crouched over with a walker or cane – although you will find walkers, and canes and the occasional wheelchair, but they are used by folks to come to the many activities at the Center. They are tools to stay active and engaged. 
But what is “old”? Bernard Baruch stated “Old age is ten years older than I am”. And according to the 2009 Pew Research Study “Growing Old in America: Expectations vs. Reality” he isn’t far off the mark. The study found that as people grew older, they felt relatively younger. Among adults 65 and older, 60% felt younger than their age. And for those between 65 and 74, a half said they felt 10 to 20 years younger.
In terms of chronological age, academics have categorized old age into three sub groups: the Young Old 65-74, the Old 75-84 and the Oldest Old 85 plus. But chronological age doesn’t really help either, because it doesn’t correlate with biological age. As Leonard Hayflick points out in his book How and Why We Age, time itself produces no biological effects. Events occur in time but not because of its passage. In fact, there is really no reliable measurement for determining our biological age; and appearances alone don’t determine how old we are.
The reality is we all start aging the moment we are born; we cannot stop it or reverse it – contrary to what they may tell you in various advertisements. Arriving at the point of being “old” is an individual experience which resists any absolute definition.  
The greatest challenge may not be determining when we become old, but changing the perception of what old is: moving from the demeaning stereotypes of old age to a full picture of the blessing and burdens of getting older. My Aunt Mo, who I quoted last week, is one example of many who break the stereotypes of old age, But she is also proud of being old at the age of 99 and isn’t afraid of the label. It is something she works at – and every day she relishes the chance.
The Center is looking for musicians interested in playing good danceable music on Tuesday nights. Unfortunately, the pay is just a share of the donations – but it could be your first step to Nashville stardom. If you know of anyone who is interested have them call the Center.
But there is still plenty of music at the Center. For Tuesday nights in September, we have Martin and Friends playing on the 9th, Truman on the 16thand The Dufur Boys on the 30th. Donations are suggested to support the band and the Center. Also there is the Pie and Jam on Sunday, September 21stwhich is free with Pie and Ice Cream for sale. And on Friday, September 19th, the popular NW vocalist Nehemiah Brown will be back once again to perform for an admission price of $3.00.
The mustached, henpecked, cigar-chomping, comic strip character wearing gloves and a top hat was “Barney Google (with the Goo-Goo-Googly Eyes). (And the winner of a free Saturday Breakfast is Herm Neuberger.) 
For the next several weeks, I am going to add a little “Chubby Checke”r twist to the “Remember When” question by giving the hint in the form of a quote. For this first week, the quote is “If that plane leaves the ground and you’re not with him, you’ll regret it. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow, but soon and for the rest of your life.” In what movie and by what actor were those lines spoken? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or send it with the lyrics to “As Time Goes By”.
Well, it’s been another week trying to keep the boat upright and water tight while enjoying the ride. Until we meet again, eat slowly while savoring each bite.

“Old age is far more than grey hair, wrinkles, it is “that” feeling that it is too late and the game finished, and the stage belongs to the rising generations. The true evil is not the weakening of the body, but the indifference of the soul.” Andre Maurois

Aging Well August 19th 2014

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Have you had to move from a place that was your home for many years? Rita and I are considering selling our house where we have lived twenty eight years. The children have moved away, and it is just too darn big. (My perfect size for a house is one small enough, I only needed to plug in the vacuum cleaner once.)
But you may have had other reasons for moving: too many stairs, you no longer want to drive so far to the store, or you may have the will but no longer the energy to care for five acres of trees and grass.
But even knowing the benefits of moving, it will be hard to move. It is where Rita and I have raised our children, built the basketball hoop in the driveway – in my failed attempt to raise the next Bill Walton. It is where I read to my children every night; and where my parents stayed in the downstairs apartment. It is a repository of personal memories I don’t want to forget.
But I don’t remember feeling this way when I left home after high school. Even with the fear and anxiety, I was looking ahead to the exciting opportunities: college, a career and the chance to make something of myself. But now as I look ahead, this could be one of my last moves. And I can see it as another signal of decline and the loss of independence. Or I can see it as a new adventure; an opportunity for greater freedom, fewer responsibilities and more time to discover new possibilities and new friends.
At least that is what I will be telling myself when Rita and I eventually sell the house. It may be the end of one chapter of wonderful memories I will always cherish. But it will also be the beginning of another chapter, yet to be written.
The Center is now accepting reservations to see Kinky Boots, the 2013 Tony award winner for best musical, on Thursday, October 2nd at the 2:00 matinee performance at the Keller Auditorium in Portland. There is only room for 20, and five tickets have already been reserved. The cost is $75 which includes transportation.
Health insurance, whether provided by an insurance company or the government, is complicated and often frustrating. Fortunately, in the case of Medicare, there are dedicated SHIBA (Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance) volunteers who offer unbiased help for older adults trying to navigate the Medicare waters.
But this valuable service is only available if there are trained volunteers. If you are interested in becoming a SHIBA volunteer, now is the time, because there is a two day training at the Center scheduled from 9:00 – 4:00 on August 26th and 27th sponsored by the local Area Agency on Aging. The deadline to register for the training has passed, but if you are interested, I will go out on a slippery limb to ask you to call Mary at 541-298-4101 and register for the training. And you don’t have to worry about lunch – it is provided.
Last week’s two missing vowels, C,D, have returned from the music store, so there is now peace and harmony in the alphabet. But now that everyone is home, I’m not sure who will be playing at the Center next Tuesday night. Hopefully we will have someone lined up, so you can enjoy another evening of dancing and listening to music performed by local musicians.
The name of the tough, wise cracking and hard drinking private detective in the Big Sleep is Philip Marlowe. (And the winner of a free Saturday Breakfast is Alex Currie.)
This week’s “Remember When” question is about a comic strip character who was the central figure of one of the longest running comic strips, and was the inspiration for a 1923 hit song, which if I told you the title would give the answer away. But in 1934 he met Snuffy Smith in the mountains of North Carolina and by 1954 his character was eliminated from the comic strip except for occasional cameos. Who was this mustached, henpecked, cigar-chomping, comic strip character wearing gloves and a top hat? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or send it with a picture of his beloved race horse Spark Plug.

Well, it’s been another week trying to stay in the game without losing my shirt. Until we meet again, as my ninety-nine year old Aunt Mo told me, “You have to work at getting old”.

“I long, as does every human being, to be at home wherever I find myself.” Maya Angelou

Aging Well August 12th 2014

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It may be overwhelming at times, but the technology bus is still careening down the freeway. And with more information, from medical records to local news; plus an increasing number of services, from online banking to Fred Meyer coupons, migrating to the Internet, there is a national effort to get everyone connected to the Internet whether through a phone company, cable company or a local provider such as Qnect.

But getting on this bus can be both expensive and confusing as demonstrated by a recent situation I encountered.

My wife’s parents are active and living in their own home, but they feel, like many, that for their own safety they need a cellphone in case of emergencies away from home. But their Tracfone no longer works. I quickly saw this as an opportunity to show them the advantages of a smartphone that can tell time, check the weather, watch videos and practically walk the dog, compared to their Tracfone which is, well, so one dimensional and boring.

So we went to a Verizon store to check out prepaid devices. But after finding that the cheapest prepaid plan was four times more expensive than their Tracfone; and more importantly, realizing they didn’t want a smartphone that could run their lives, it was clear the “dumb” Tracfone was the most sensible option for them.

But this experience raises the question, do we all have to have a smartphone? Do we all have to be connected to the Internet?  Does everyone have to get on the bus? Maybe the “dumb” phone, the television set and paper and pencil is all many folks really do need.

Unfortunately, it will become increasingly likely that you will need something that is best found on the Internet. And for those occasional times, you can always call the Center for assistance. We have helped many already and can help you find the information or access the services you need.
So if you don’t want to get on the bus of ever changing technology, we will ride it for you and make sure it stops when you need it.

There is nothing like a wildfire to get you thinking about emergency preparedness. At the Center you will find the Red Cross resource guide Prepare that has valuable information about how to prepare for emergencies. It is particularly important for individuals who have mobility or health issues to plan ahead because disasters can strike at any time. You can also find the resource guide online at www.redcross.org/cascades.

For all of our faithful Saturday Breakfast friends, there will not be a Saturday Breakfast in August. The Center volunteers have been so busy this summer, we decided to give them a break. But there will be a September breakfast on September 20thsponsored on behalf of the AARP Smart Driver Program. The Smart Driver course is offered every month on the third Monday and Tuesday from 9:00 – 12:00.
The five vowels have returned from there foray into the unknown, but before their return two consonants left searching for them. See if you can determine which consonants are missing and where you can probably find them.
Truman will be playing his *ountry Gol* at the *enter on Tues*ay August 19th starting at 7:00 PM. The *oors open at 6:00 an* the musi* keeps rolling from 7:00 until 9:00. *onations are appre*iate* an* everyone is wel*ome. An* this Sun*ay, it is time for the Jammers’ monthly gig at the *enter from 2:00 to 5:00. It’s free and there will be pie and i*e *ream for sale.
The name of the play-by-play announcer known as the “Voice of the New York Yankees” was Mel Allen. (And the winner of a free Saturday Breakfast is Tiiu Vahtel.) 
During the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer, sometimes it’s nice to just sit back and read a good “hard boiled” mystery. But before Lee Child’s Jack Reacher, there was Raymond Chandler who at the age of 51 wrote his first novel The Big Sleep which was published in 1939 and adapted to the big screen in 1946 starring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. For this week’s “Remember When” question, who was the tough, wise cracking and hard drinking private detective in the Big Sleep as well as Chandler’s other mystery novels? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or drop it off with two cocktail glasses filled with ½ lime juice and ½ gin.   

Well, it’s been another week trying to be part of the solution and not the problem. Until we meet again, there comes a time when keeping score no longer matters. 

Aging Well August 5th 2014

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I was reading an online post from a young person asking, if at the age of thirty she still had time to make something of her life. When I read it I wanted to say to her, “WHAT ARE YOU THINKING! It is never too late. At the age of sixty, seventy, eighty or even ninety!”
I thought of that question again when I scanned the Habitat supporters seated during the celebration at the construction site of Habitat’s newest home in The Dalles. The vast majority were over 60, some still working but most retired from paid work, but not from giving their time to support, in small and large ways, habitat’s mission of building affordable, safe housing for families in the Mid-Columbia.
Habitat is just one of many organization that can use volunteers: from walking dogs, answering phones, and swinging hammers to reading stories, stuffing mailers, and delivering meals. The opportunities are endless.
But I admit, putting yourself in a new situation may be uncomfortable for many. Like me, you may be afraid of “messing up”, although I’m getting use to that. Or you might be worried about taking on too much responsibility. Or afraid of “volunteer creep” when a one day commitment turns into three and you wonder, “How did that happen. I’m retired!”
Our communities run on the social capital of volunteers, many over 60, who are the fuel for much of the good that is accomplished in our communities. Being engaged, whether volunteering at your church, a service club or non-profit, visiting friends at a care facility, or by keeping an eye on your neighbor, because one of these days he may be keeping an eye on you, is what makes our communities strong and vibrant.
Never think the days when you can contribute and make a difference are behind you. It is never too late, because the older you are the more you have to give back.
The Dalles Art Center has announced the opening of their popular open juried show “Gorge Artists Create”. This year the theme of the show is “water” with sixty-three works of art on display. The awards will be announced at the art reception on Thursday, August 7th from 5:00 – 7:00 pm when you will have a chance to meet the artists, and mingle with other art enthusiasts. And there will be appetizers for the evening provided by the Senior Center. The Art Center is open from 11:00 – 5:00 on Tuesdays through Saturdays. And don’t forget their annual Art Auction on November 1st.
The LINK bus to the Wasco County Fair and the free Senior Lunch on Thursday, August 14th is beginning to fill up. If you are interested in taking the bus I would suggest you sign up now. It sold out last year. The cost is $3.00 each way and the LINK bus will leave from the Center at 10:00.
For the Center’s Tuesday night music announcement, the editor seems to have left out those five pesky vowels. See if you can decipher the music announcement for August 12th without them.
t’s nc gn tm fr Mrtn nd Frnds t d thr cntry thng t th Cntr n Tsdy, gst 12th. Th msc nd dncng strts t 7:00 PM nd th drs pn t 6:00 fr th rly brds. Fr Tsdy nght msc thr s nt  chrg bt dntns fr th bnd nd th Cntr r pprctd. 
The British actress who starred in Breakfast at Tiffany’s with George Peppard and Roman Holiday with Gregory Peck was the beautiful Audrey Hepburn. (And the winner of a free Saturday Breakfast is Bev Ayers who pointed out that Audrey Hepburn was not born in England, but Brussels Belgian.)  
I remember at night listening to baseball games on the radio when the play-by-play announcer would create the excitement as if you were there in the ball park. One of the best announcers was famous for his many catchphrases he used doing the games including “How a-bout that?!” and “Go-ing, go-ing, gonnne!!” What was the name of this play-by-play announcer known as the “Voice of the New York Yankees”? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or mail it with a copy of the 1995 baseball computer game Old Time Baseball.  
Well, it’s been another week trying to remember to breathe in slowly when things start moving too fast. Until we meet again, stay plugged-in and the power turned on.
“Never take someone for granted. Hold every person close to your heart because you might wake up one day and realize that you’ve lost a diamond while you were too busy collecting stones.” Unknown

Aging Well July 29th 2014

Aging Well in the Gorge No Comments
When you listen to an old favorite song, smell a certain perfume or browse through a picture album, does it often trigger images and emotions long forgotten? This nostalgia, emotions caused by remembering something from the past, has been described by Angela Carter as the vice of the aged. “We watch so many old movies our memories come in monochrome”. And John Thorn uses the Greek description to define nostalgia as the pain of not being able to return to one’s home and family. 
 Nostalgia is often considered detrimental to your emotional well-being. If you are constantly comparing your current situation to the past and wishing you could return to the “good old days”, it can create a sense of loss, isolation and a corresponding disconnect from the present. 
 But according to the 2013 New York Times article written by John Tierney “What is Nostalgia Good For? Quite a Bit Research Shows”, nostalgia has more positive benefits than the negative effects associated with nostalgia. It can provide psychological comfort and support, counteracting feelings of boredom, loneliness and anxiety. It can raise self-esteem, increase optimism, and bring couples closer together when sharing common nostalgic experiences. And it can bring back memories that remind us that our lives do have meaning. 
 We can’t go back – time moves in only one direction; and we shouldn’t live in the past. But there are benefits from looking back; recalling the many fond and often funny memories: listening to the Indianapolis 500 in the backyard with all the aunts and uncles; watching my sister knock over the waste basket in study hall; and driving home my high school dates in my grandmother’s ’63 Buick Skylark convertible with bucket seats (and boy was that uncomfortable!). Cherish the memories, but don’t get stuck. The comforting memories of the “good old days” can provide the confidence and strength to look forward to new adventures – and future memories. 
 I just learned from Dick Frost, coordinator of the AARP Smart Driver classes in the Mid-Columbia area, that our own Smart Driver instructor, Dennis Davis, was the highest rated instructor in the State of Oregon which is pretty darn good. If you want to take the AARP Smart Driver class from the best instructor in Oregon, your next chance is from 9:00 – 12:00 on August 18th and 19th (every third Monday and Tuesday of most every month). Sign up by calling the Center at 541-296-4788. 
 Meals-on-Wheels has scheduled another big Bingo Bash on Thursday, August 7th starting at 6:00 PM (If you are a newbie to Bingo you may want to arrive at least by 5:30 to get settled in.) There will be a guaranteed $1000 pay out on the last game plus other big prizes. And think of the odds. Even if there is a large crowd of 100 people, your odds of winning $1000 are still one-in-a-hundred – which doesn’t count your chances of winning the other cash prizes. And if you can’t make in on the 7th, there is always Bingo at the Center every Thursday and Saturday nights. 
 It’s been a while since I have tried to agitate your little grey cells. So here is the Center’s music announcement for next week in the manner of Elvis Presley – “All Shook Up”. 
 “The Sawrtebyrr Monuitan Badn” will be plaingy teihr good tiem cnoutry mcsiu at teh Cernet on Tusdyea, Agusut 5th. Doros opne at 6:00 and mcusi strast at 7:00. Evreyoen is wleeocm inildgcun the odl, hte yogun and the restlses. Adn doantions aer apperaicted.
 The answer to last week’s “Remember When” question is Henry Mancini – the composer, conductor and arranger best remembered for composing many popular film and television scores. (And the winner of a free Saturday Breakfast is Bill Van Nice who also identified from last week’s hints three songs Henry Mancini wrote: Pink Panther – the colorful cat, Moon River – the body of water and Peter Gunn – the firearm.) 
 For this week, hoping to activate some nostalgic memories, let’s take this thread a little further. Henry Mancini wrote Moon River for the 1961 romantic comedy Breakfast at Tiffany’s. In that movie what British actress and academy award winner played the character of the naïve and eccentric Holly Golightly? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or mail it with two round-trip tickets for a holiday in Rome. 
 Well, it’s been another week trying to keep everything straight and narrow. Until we meet again, don’t let your needle get stuck on the same old song. 

 “I always wanted to be somebody, but now I realize I should have been more specific.” Lily Tomlin

Aging Well July 22nd 2014

Aging Well in the Gorge No Comments
Do we always have to act our age? Do we really have to stop dressing up for Halloween, or drawing with watercolors and crayons? Or telling corny jokes we have all heard several times before (but I still find amusing)? But if you are 92, should you really climb under the house when your wife is afraid she will have to call 911 to pull you out? (I don’t think you really want to be the opening segment on the Channel 6 news: “Stubborn Geezer in over his head”.)
But it is difficult realizing there are some things you really shouldn’t be doing anymore. (Although I don’t have any qualms about no longer climbing ladders. I never did like climbing higher than I could reach,) Because for me, if I stop doing something, whether it is a job, working under the sink, swimming laps or even something I don’t really enjoy such as changing a tire, I feel as if I’m “giving up”; accepting the gradual loss of ability, of purpose which I fear will continue downward to an eventuality I don’t want to think about.
But I have to tell myself that is not really “giving up”. “Giving up” is being unrealistic about what you should still be doing, and blind to the changes that have taken place in mind and body. “Giving up” is worrying about the doors that have closed, instead of opening your eyes to the new doors leading to more adventures and possibilities. 
And I admit, I know will not always make the wise choices as I struggle to keep some of the doors from closing. I just hope I don’t find myself on the evening news!
With the help of Ginny McNary, the Center has scheduled four trips for this summer. The first trip is to the Oregon Gardens in Silverton on July 29th which costs $35.00 and includes transportation and admittance to the garden. The next trip is on August 12th to Cascade Locks for a 1-hour cruise on the Sternwheeler, followed by a no host lunch at the Charburger, and a trip over to Stevenson to visit the Interpretive Center. That trip costs $50.00 for the transportation, the cruise and admittance to the Interpretive Center. And the final two destinations are Portland on August 26th for a two hour Portland Spirit cruise with lunch for $60; and the Warm Springs Museum on September 22ndfor $30. All the trips are on Tuesdays and transportation is provided by Sherman County Transit. There is only room for 20 for each trip and we are now accepting payment to hold your spot on the bus. For the Oregon Gardens we already have ten spaces filled.

Thanks to the generosity of Flagstone Senior Living and the Mid-Columbia Area Agency on Aging, there will once again be a “Senior Picnic in the Park” at the Wasco County Fair on Thursday, August 14 (Free Admittance Day sponsored by Mel’s Sanitation) beginning at 
11: 30. And you can let LINK do the driving! The bus will leave the Center at 10:00 and start the trip back after the picnic around 1:00 PM. The cost is $3.00 each way and the seating is limited to only 14 plus two wheelchairs. Call the Center to reserve your place.
“The Dufur Boys” will be playing their crowd pleasing country music at the Center on Tuesday, July 8th. Doors open at 6:00 and music starts at 7:00. All ages are welcome and donations are appreciated.         
The name of the popular series of children books that included Pokey Little Puppy and was first published in 1942 selling for twenty five cents is the Little Golden Book series.  (And the winner of a free Saturday Breakfast is Bette Nelson.)

This week’s “Remember When” question is back to the category of music but not the rock and roll variety. Born in 1924 this American composer, conductor and arranger, is best remembered for his film and television scores and is often cited as one of the greatest composers in the history of film. Who wrote the themes for movies and television featuring a colorful cat, body of water and a firearm?E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or mail it with a case of Oh Henry! candy bars.

Well, it’s been another week – what more can I say. Until we meet again, as Dave Lutgens once told me “Don’t take life too seriously. You will never get out of it alive.”

 “I believe that if life gives you lemons, you should make lemonade… And try to find somebody whose life has given them vodka, and have a party.” Ron White